UCF begins random COVID-19 tests on students today

Starting Monday, the University of Central Florida will start testing randomly selected students for COVID-19.

UCF officials are working to determine how prevalent the virus is on campus.

According to a release put out by UCF, “We will begin with a random sample of about 100 students who belong to Greek organizations because Greek students have been at higher risk of contracting the virus at universities throughout the country and because UCF has already had to quarantine residents of three on-campus houses.”

Students who will be part of the first round of testing were notified by email last week. They will be required to complete their test between Monday, Sept. 21 and Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Garage A. The university will cover the cost of the tests.

Contact tracers will follow up with anyone who tests positive.

In the meantime, Olympia High School students will return to in-person class today while West Orange students will be learning from home until October 5.

Olympia transitioned to online learning after six cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at the school on September 8, West Orange reported 10 positive coronavirus cases within the campus community on Friday.

Also last week, Orange County Public Schools canceled a football game between West Orange and Evans high after five players, coaches or trainers from Evans tested positive.

OCSP maintains the “health and safety of our students and staff is OCPS' top priority.”

Cox Media Group